Board game apparatus

ABSTRACT

A game device in the form of a game board foldable along a center line and provided with a planar upper surface when unfolded with a playing area delineated thereon with the playing area being divided into a grid pattern of spaces having predetermined color patterns and certain spaces having indicia associated therewith. Game pieces of different types and with different color characteristics are provided for positioning on the game board for movement and associational relationship in accordance with rules of play and structural features which enable associational relationships of certain game pieces. The game device utilizes vehicular traffic characteristics to not only provide an entertaining game which may be played by various age groups but also a game which has educational value.

United States Patent [191 Hersey [4 1 Sept. 2, 1975 BOARD GAME APPARATUS [76] Inventor: Thomas T. Hersey, 1 104 S. Duff,

' Mitchell, S. Dak. 57301 [22] Filed: May 21, 1974 [2]] Appl. No.: 471,959

[52] U.S. Cl. 273/131 AB; 273/131 K;

273/131 KC; 273/137 AB [51] Int. Cl. A63f 3/00 [58] Field of Search 273/131, 134

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 604,401 5/1898 Lang 273/131 K 1,016,187 l/l9l2 Vacek 273/131 K FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 564,396 11/1932 Germany 273/134 AD 364,205 lO/1962 Switzerland 273/134 AD Primary Examiner-Delbert B. Lowe Attorney, Agent, or F irm-Clarence A. OBrien; Harvey B. Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT A game device in the form of a game board foldable along a center line and provided with a planar upper surface when unfolded with a playing area delineated thereon with theplaying area being divided into a grid pattern of spaces having predetermined color patterns and certain spaces having indicia associated therewith. Game pieces of different types and with different color characteristics are provided for positioning on the game board for movement and associational relationship in accordance with rules of play and structural features which enable associational relationships of certain game pieces. The game device utilizes vehicular traffic characteristics to not only provide an entertaining game which may be played by various age groups but also a game which has educational value.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEU SEP 97 Si'iEET 1 OF 2 PATENTED SEP 1975 SHEETZOFZ BOARD GAME APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention generally relates to game devices and more particularly to that type of game device employing a game board with a playing area delineated thereon and game pieces positioned and movable thereon in accordance with predetermined rules of play and the skills of the players with vehicular traffic characteristics being employed in playing a game.

2. Description of the Prior Art Many game devices employing game boards and game pieces movable thereon in accordance with rules of play have been developed and marketed over the years with the game pieces having various shapes and configurations and controlled by various devices such as chance devices in the form of dice, drawn cards and the like. Typical of such known games is that disclosed in US. Pat. No. 2,026,082 issued Dec. 31, 1935, which discloses the well known game of Monopoly. Prior US. Pat. No. 2,792,227, issued May 14, 1957, discloses a game board with game pieces thereon which utilize some characteristics of vehicular traffic with a chance device controlling play of the game. While such previously known game devices provide entertainment, the above-mentioned patents rely upon a chance device for controlling movement of the game pieces and do not require any particular skills or knowledge of vehicular traffic characteristics and do not require any specific relationships of the game pieces themselves for controlling play of a game.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION I An object of the present invention is to provide a game device utilizing a game board with a grid type playing area delineated thereon with the areas being colored and provided with indicia for receiving game pieces and for enabling game pieces to be moved in certain paths and patterns.

Another object of the invention is to provide a game device in which the game board and game pieces set forth in the preceding object as well as the rules of play utilize vehicular traffic characteristics with the game pieces having indicia thereon and provided in colored sets with certain of the game pieces having red or green colored areas corresponding to traffic lights and other game pieces being in the form of a figurine representing a traffic cop with certain of the game pieces being contructed for stacking for controlling play of the game.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a game device in accordance with the preceding objects which is relatively inexpensive in construction, capable of being utilized by various age groups, entertaining and requiring the use and development of skills and knowledge relating to traffic characteristics.

These, together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of the game board having the game pieces set up thereon in a starting position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of two game pieces, one of which is in the form of a figurine, and which are capable of being stacked one upon the other,

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of another game piece having indicia on the top surface thereof.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another typical game piece.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a game board with the game pieces being moved in a particular pattern with directional indicators thereon in certain instances.

FIG. 6 is a plan view similar to FIG. 5 but with the game pieces moved to a different arrangement during the progress of a game.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring nowspecifically to the drawings, the game device set up in its starting condition is illustrated in FIG. I and is generally designated by reference numeral 10 and includes a game board 12 of square or rectangular configuration with the board being relatively thin but substantially rigid and provided with a central foldline, if desired, to enable the game board to be folded into half size as is conventional in various types of game boards such as conventional checkerboards and the like.

The playing surface of the game board is divided into a grid pattern by perpendicularly arranged intersecting longitudinal lines 14 and transverse lines 16 which define a plurality of horizontal and vertical rows of substantially square spaces with ten spaces being in each row. The innermost eight spaces in each row of spaces are alternately distinguishably colored in the nature of a checkerboardwith the spaces preferably being white and black or a light gray color and a dark gray color with the light spaces being designated by numeral 18 and the dark spaces being designated by numeral 20. As illustrated, the light and dark spaces are arranged in diagonal adjacent relation in the same manner as a checkerboard.

The outermost'row of spaces along one end edge of the board are provided with sequential numerical indicia 22 and similar but inverse numerical indicia 24 is provided on the opposite end edge of the board as illustrated in FIG. 1 with the indicia 22 being white or light and the indicia2'4 being dark or black. Both sets of numerical indicia have the bottom edge of the indicia disposed inwardly toward the center of the board. At each corner of the game board, two spaces along the side edge of the board are provided with indicia 26 designating the fanciful name for the game, Traffic Jam". The two side spaces immediately inwardly of the double space 26 at the lower right-hand corner of the board as illustrated in FIG. 1 include indicia 30 in the form of the letter the next space inwardly along the right-hand side edge of the board designated by numeral 32 includes indicia 34 designating the space as Hospital. The next two spaces on the right-hand side of the board are designated by numeral 36 and include indicia in the form of the letter J The next space on the right-hand side of the board designated by numeral 40 includes indica 42 designating this space as Jail. All of the indicia in the spaces between the corner spaces 26 on the right-hand side of the board are light or White while corresponding but inverted indicia on the left-hand side of the board is dark or black. Also, an outermost space 28 is provided with indicia 44 along the inner longitudinal line thereof designating a gate or door. The inner transverse lines defining the spaces 28 are provided with omitted areas 46. Also, the outermost space 36 is provided with indicia 48 on the inner longitudinal line thereof designating a door or gate similar to the indicia 44. Centrally of the game board is indicia 50 designating a smiling face which may be amber or of similar color and the four spaces contiguous with the indicia 50 are provided with indicia 52 in the form of the letter S. The space adjacent to the hospital space 32 is provided with indicia 54 in the form of the numeral 1 and the next adjacent lower space includes indicia 56 in the form of numeral 2.

The game board as described is symmetrical about a transverse centerline with two players utilizing the game device being positioned at opposite end edges of the board with the indicia being so arranged that the numerical indicia along one end edge of the board will be properly oriented for observation by a player at the opposite end of the board and the indicia along the sides of the board being properly positioned for observation by opposing players.

Three types of game pieces are employed as illustrated in FIGS. 2-4. A figurine game piece 58 in the form of a caricature of a traffic cop includes a circular base 60 and a circular recess 62 in the undersurface thereof. As illustrated, each player has two figurine game pieces or traffic cops 58 with the top surface of the base of two of the game pieces 58 being dark or black and two of the game pieces 58 having the base top surface light or white and positioned on the game board as illustrated in FIG. 1. Traffic light game pieces 64 of circular configuration are provided with a raised central portion 66 which is colored either green or red and the top surface of the portion of the game piece 64 outwardly of the raised central upper surface is either white or black and the undersurface of each of the game pieces 64 is provided with a recess similar to the recess 62 so that the traffic light game pieces 64 may be stacked upon each other and so that the figurine game pieces 58 may be stacked on the traffic light game pieces. Circular picture game pieces 68 are provided which have numerical indicia, pictorial indicia and name indicating indicia thereon, with the picture game pieces having the top edge of the base outwardly of the recessed indicia either white or black.

In starting the game, the pieces 58, 64 and 68 are oriented in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1 with the white game pieces commencing play and the player moving the white game pieces facing the board so that the white numerals 22 are in proper orientation for observation, that is, the player moving the white game pieces will be oriented at the bottom edge of the board as viewed in FIG. 1. Thus, there are 24 white pieces, some of which have picture tops, some red tops, some green tops and some traffic cop tops.

The board for the game is a standard square checkerboard with 64 dark and light checkered squares, which may be used also for playing checkers or chess. Around this checkered board is added a margin on all four sides equal in width to the checkered squares. In the margin at the top of the board there are eight white numbered squares and in the margin at the bottom of the board there are eight upside down black numbered squares.

In the right-hand margin of the board there are three white lettered Jail cells and three white lettered Hospital rooms. The left-hand border of the board has the same set-up, only it is in reverse and is lettered in black. (See FIG. 1) The letters H and J on the board stand for Hospital and Jail, respectively.

The sides" of the game for the two players are designated by black bases for one side and white bases for the other side, of all playing pieces.

As the WHITES first start the game (as in chess), we will face the board as in FIG. 1 with the eight black upside down margin numbers at the bottom of the board; then the white based playing pictures will be placed, not on top of the black numbers in the bottom margin row, but just above them in the first bottom checkered row, matching each numbered picture piece with a black number in the margin below it. These numbered pictures are: 1 Hitch Hiker; 2 Small Car; 3 Pedestrian; 4 Cyclist, 5 Large Car; 6 Truck; 7 Service Truck; and 8 Ambulance. In the next row above the numbered pictures will be placed eight white based green traffic lights and in the row above the green lights will be placed two white based Cops in the center of the row, and three white based red traffic lights on each side of the two Cops (see FIG. 1.), making 24 white based pieces. We will call all of these pieces whites although some will have picture tops, some red tops, some green tops, and some COP tops.

At the top of the board place all of the black based playing pieces in the same manner, except in reverse and upside down. All 24 of these pieces we will call BLACKS (See FIG. 1).

The 1 Hitch Hiker can move anywhere on the checkered board, and in his own jail only one square at a time on any open square and only forward, backwards, or sideways. He can also move over only one green light at a time (black or white based) forward, backward, sideways, or cornerwise; never more than one green light in one move. The 1 Hitch Hiker can hitch a ride on his cycle or any of his cars except his ambulance and ride as far as that car goes on open squares or over any green light or connected line of green lights, but he must have an open adjoining square to land on, from any side or corner, at the end of each side. In real life a Hitch Hiker some times hitches a ride and finds he is being taken in the wrong direction from where he wants to go, so in Traffic Jam a player may kidnap his opponents Hitch Hiker from any side or corner and haul him off to some undesirable location. Both Hitch Hikers may be carried on the same car (but only one on the cycle), but both must be put off onto open squares at the end of each ride. The Hitch Hiker is subject to arrest and jailing, but is not subject to being run over and injured.

All of the remaining numbered pieces, the 2 Small Car, 3 Pedestrian, 4 Cyclist, 5 Large Car, 6 Truck, 7 Service Truck, and 8 Ambulance can each move on open squares only frontwards, backwards, or sideways (never cornerwise), and only one space at a time anywhere on the checkered board and in the jails and hospitals, but they can also move over any green light (their own or their opponents) or connected line of green lights as far as that line of lights leads. This may be done from any side or corner and anywhere on the checkered board. They must land on an open square at the end of each move. Any passage over any connected, unbroken line of green lights, no matter how long, is considered one move.

The numbered picture pieces, 2 Small Car, 3 Pedestrian, and 4 Cyclist are Accident Prone (AP), and liable to be run over and injured or damaged by any of the opponents larger cars. (Small Car cannot run over ones opponents small car.) If run over, it is turned bottom side up and shown in a damaged or injured condition; it is printed in red, it is immovable and must be picked up by the service truck, in the case of the 2 Small Car, and hauled to his home row, dumped off from any side or corner, right side up, and is again movable.

In case of an injured 3 Pedestrian or 4 Cyclist, the victims must be picked up only one at a time by the 8 Ambulance from any adjoining square and from any side or corner, hauled to his Hospital, and from either of the squares marked 1 or 2 dumped (still red side up) from any side or corner on to the square in the hospital marked HOSPITAL which is the Emergency Ward. From here he is worked on by the doctors and nurses and is moved one room at a time down toward the exit, then in a third move he is moved out on the board right side up, a cured person. If there is a green light or chain of connected green lights at the door, he may follow over it as far as he wishes to go in the same move. In Traffic .larn there is never a fatal accident. The injured never die, but always live to play another game.

All three of the above mentioned accidents are considered as Hit and Run Accidents and are dealt with under the rules governing movements of the Cops mentioned below.

Any of the red or green, black or white traffic lights can move only one space at a time in any direction, backwards, forwards, or cornerwise, on any open square or on top of each other in any combination and any height; red on red, or red on green, or green on green, or green on red, or black on white, or white on black, etc., but never on top of any numbered picture piece or on top of a Cop. They can move only on open squares or on top of each other any place on the checkered board, but never in the margins. They are so shaped that they can be piled one on top of each other and will not slide off. When piledup, the top color, red or green, rules the spot and can be moved only by the player who owns the base color of the top light. Red lights are stop lights and can never be passed over by any of the numbered picture pieces. Any green light or connected line of green lights, connected sidewise or cornerwise, of either black or white base, can be passed over by any of the picture playing pieces from either side. Lights can be piled or unpiled in any move, but only one at a time.

The cops are always a stop signal, the same as red lights, and can move only one space at a time, the same as red or green lights and anywhere on the checkered board except in front of an opponents Jail exit or Hospital exit. The police can move on top of any red or green, black based or white based traffic light, or pile of traffic lights, but never on top of each other or on top of any picture playing piece.

In case of a hit and run accident (see previous para graph on accidents), if ones Cop can catch up to any side or corner of the culprit who caused the accident before he reaches his home row, his Cop can arrest the culprit and the player picks him up from any place on the board and puts him in his Jail.

If a player can maneuver his two Cops so as to place them on two opposite sides, either sideways or corner wise of any of his opponents picture playing pieces, except his Ambulance, he can ticket that piece and pick him upand put him in his Jail. The jail holds three pieces and when a second piece is put in jail, it automatically moves the piece or pieces ahead one space until thejail is full. After that, if no pieces are moved out of the jail, any other picture piece on the board is immune from arrest. Also, any picture playing pieces landing on any of the safety squares having indicia 52 thereon are immune from arrest or being run over. However, the other game pieces can move on these areas. Any numbered picture piece in jail or hospital can be moved one space at a time by its owner, down to the exit, and then out on to the board and is in play again. Further, an optional variable timer may be employed to set a predetermined alloted time for each player to make his move or else he loses his turn thus simulating actual traffic conditions where rapid decisions are necessary.

The whites have the first move and the blacks have the last move. The numbered row across the board in the margin is the goal or home row for the numbered picture pieces on each side, with each picture piece on top of its corresponding number. If the blacks get there first, they win the game. If the whites get there first, the blacks still have one more move, and could make it a draw game.

To start the game, one green light is moved straight ahead on top of a red light on either side of the Cops which could let a player move any of his picture pieces out on to the center of the board over his connected line of green lights; however, it is sometimes better to move one green light out on top of a red light on each side of the Cops. This lets one get his picture pieces out quicker. Always keep in mind that you can always close your red lights to your opponent by moving your green light back off from the red light. Take every opportunity possible to move your picture pieces over your opponents green lights when he has left a green line open that you can pass over. Watch out for your opponents Cops that they dont corner some of your picture pieces and put them in jail. This would penalize such pieces several moves to get out of jail and back into play again.

After several moves on both sides the center of the board (Main Street) becomes congested with cars, trucks, motorcycles, people walking, cops and traffic lights, into a real honest-to-goodness Traffic Jam. Cars are bumped, fenders are scratched, pedestrians are knocked down, Cops and traffic lights are in the way. Then maybe your opponents Cops put one of your picture pieces in jail, and that thins things out a little. Maybe your pedestrian gets knocked down and run over and your ambulance takes him to the hospital. That thins the jam out a little more. Gradually a few of the picture pieces from both sides slip out of the jam on green lights into enemy territory and on their way home. Gradually the jam thins out and is over. Then the race is on to see which side can get all of his remaining picture playing pieces home first. Study some of the plays in action illustrated on FIG. 5.

If you have a chance to run over one or more of your opponents accident prone picture pieces and think you can get away with it before one of his Cops catches you and puts you n jail, you might try it.

In playing the game, none of the pieces is ever removed from the board, and there are no fatal casualities, all live to play another game.

In FIG. are shown various plays in action with the figure area for each move illustrated on FIG. 5 being surrounded with a line 70 which may be colored red. Dotted line 72 marks the course of travel of the 5 large black car over two green lights and 2 AP white small cars and 3 AP white pedestrians, then over two more green lights and then off on to an open square: one square short of home row and safety. This illustrates with a dotted line how a numbered playing piece can move clear across the board over green lights and AP pieces all in one move. However, the next move is a white Cop moves down from his position (see FIG. 5) onto a square adjoining black Hit and Run 5 big car Big Shot, arrests him and puts him in the black jail. Indicia 74 indicates where NO COPS can move in front of opponents JAIL EXITS Or HOSPITAL EXITS. FIG. 5 also shows traffic lights stacked, and COP stacked on traffic light, and 2 black COPS on opposite sides of 6 white truck to put him in jail. Dotted lines show how this can be done four different ways.

FIG. 6 shows a half played game in which two players may take opposite sides and play out to win or tie this half played game. Then reset up this half played game, reverse players and play out the game again.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A game device comprising a game board having a generally planar upper surface provided with distinguishably colored playing spaces arranged in horizontal, diagonal and longitudinal rows with the distinguishably colored spaces being oriented in staggered relationship, the two end edges of the game board defining a home row for playing pieces and including progressive numerical indicia thereon, the two side edges of the game board including spaces having indicia associated therewith for movement of certain game pieces, distinguishably colored sets of game pieces oriented in certain of the spaces on the game board, certain of said game pieces in each set including green or red colored areas indicating traffic movement, certain other game pieces in each set including indicia indicating vehicular traffic movable on the game board with the green and red game pieces controlling movement of the vehicular game pieces.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the green and red game pieces are constructed for stacking interlocking engagement whereby opponents may change the traffic condition indicated by the green and red game pieces by superimposing one colored piece onto another.

3. The structure as defined in claim 1 together with figurine game pieces depicting a traffic cop controlling movement of the vehicular game pieces and enabling removal of certain vehicular game pieces when oriented in a particular relationship thereto.

4. The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein certain of the vehicular game pieces represent accident prone vehicles and are invertible to reveal indicia depicting vehicular accidents and injury.

5. The structure as defined in claim 4 wherein certain spaces on the game board include indicia designating such spaces as jail spaces and hospital spaces into which certain of the game pieces are moved as a result of vehicular accidents and injuries.

6. A vehicular traffic game device comprising a game board provided with a checkerboard array of distinguishably colored playing spaces thereon, two distinguishably colored sets of game pieces positioned on and movable in relation to the spaces, each set of game pieces including a plurality of simulative traffic cops, a plurality of simulative roadway users and a plurality of simulative traffic stop and go signals provided with red or green colored areas to control movement of the roadway user game pieces on the playing spaces, said stop and go signals being stackable to place either a stop or a go signal at the top of the stack thereby enabling conversion of the signal from a stop signal to a go signal or from a go signal to a stop signal.

7. The structure as defined in claim 6 wherein said stop and go signal game pieces each have a raised projection having a flat colored surface on the top thereof and a corresponding recess in the bottom thereof whereby the game pieces may be stacked in interengaging relation.

8. The structure as defined in claim 6 wherein said roadway user game pieces have indicia thereon with a plurality of them having indicia on both surfaces to indicate results of roadway use incidents.

9. The structure as defined in claim 8 wherein said game board includes oppositely disposed rows of numerical indicia aligned with and disposed outwardly of the roadway user game pieces to provide a home row for the roadway user game pieces, and spaces with indicia along each side of the game board for positioning the roadway user game pieces as a result of movement 

1. A game device comprising a game board having a generally planar upper surface provided with distinguishably colored playing spaces arranged in horizontal, diagonal and longitudinal rows with the distinguishably colored spaces being oriented in staggered relationship, the two end edges of the game board defining a home row for playing pieces and including progressive numerical indicia thereon, the two side edges of the game board including spaces having indicia associated therewith for movement of certain game pieces, distinguishably colored sets of game pieces oriented in certain of the spaces on the game board, certain of said game pieces in each set including green or red colored areas indicating traffic movement, certain other game pieces in each set including indicia indicating vehicular traffic movable on the game board with the green and red game pieces controlling movement of the vehicular game pieces.
 2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the green and red game pieces are constructed for stacking interlocking engagement whereby opponents may change the traffic condition indicated by the green and red game pieces by superimposing one colored piece onto another.
 3. The structure as defined in claim 1 together with figurine game pieces depicting a traffic cop controlling movement of the vehicular game pieces and enabling removal of certain vehicular game pieces when oriented in a particular relationship thereto.
 4. The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein certain of the vehicular game pieces represent accident prone vehicles and are invertible to reveal indicia depicting vehicular accidents and injury.
 5. The structure as defined in claim 4 wherein certain spaces on the game board include indicia designating such spaces as jail spaces and hospital spaces into which certain of the game pieces are moved as a result of vehicular accidents and injuries.
 6. A vehicular traffic game device comprising a game board provided with a checkerboard array of distinguishably colored playing spaces thereon, two distinguishably colored sets of game pieces positioned on and movable in relation to the spaces, each set of game pieces including a plurality of simulative traffic cops, a plurality of simulative roadway users and a plurality of simulative traffic stop and go signals provided with red or green colored areas to control movement of the roadway user game pieces on the playing spaces, said stop and go signals being stackable to place either a stop or a go signal at the top of the stack thereby enabling conversion of the signal from a stop signal to a go signal or from a go signal to a stop signal.
 7. The structure as defined in claim 6 wherein said stop and go signal game pieces each have a raised projection having a flat colored surface on the top thereof and a corresponding recess in the bottom thereof whereby the game pieces may be stacked in interengaging relation.
 8. The structure as defined in claim 6 wherein said roadway user game pieces have indicia thereon with a plurality of them having indicia on both surfaces to indicate results of roadway use incidents.
 9. The structure as defined in claim 8 wherein said game board includes oppositely disposed rows of numerical indicia aligned with and disposed outwardly of the roadway user game pieces to provide a home row for the roadway user game pieces, and spaces with indicia along each side of the game board for positioning the roadway user game pieces as a result of movement of such game pieces. 